Pitfall: The Doctor Not Supporting Your Product and Services - The Doctor's support of all Spa services and products is crucial to the Medical Spa's success. 

The difficulty lies in creating a menu of service that does not compromise the Doctor's integrity and yet is still a marketable product. Doctors often feel divided with regard to the benefits of certain Spa services. You have a couple options when creating your menu and choosing your product.

When selecting a skin care range for your spa, one choice may be purchasing an existing Spa skin care line. These products are designed specifically for use during Face and Body Treatments at a Spa or Medi-Spa. They come with step-by-step instructions on ‘how to' perform the treatment, (which ensures that all staff are practicing the same standard service).

They are sold in professional sizes, which means you buy larger economy sizes to be used in the rooms during the service. And, most of these lines have excellent marketing literature that helps your staff sell the product. Do your homework to find a range that has sound scientific background and is synergistic with your beliefs and concept.

If the Doctor is having trouble finding a Spa range of products, there are many pharmaceutical companies that are expanding their ranges to suit the Medical Spa. There are advantages and disadvantages with this approach.  Working with a pharmaceutical range gives you flexibility when designing your menu, it allows you to create a menu specific to your vision which helps bring office and Spa together.

However, this approach involves more work. Pharmaceutical companies do not impart technique (on which many Spa Managers and Aestheticians rely).  You will have to design your own customized treatments, train the staff to perform these treatments, create your own private label/logo and sometimes purchase in larger quantities.

If you are creatively inclined, choosing a pharmaceutical range allows you to develop a menu of service that is a perfect balance between clinical and luxury.

By Alexis Ufland,  Director at Lexi Design www.lexidesign.com

A respected authority in the Spa industry, Alexis Ufland has developed premier Spas across Europe, Asia and the United States. With a unique combination of creativity, development and operations, Ms. Ufland will create and implement a proven turnkey operation that guarantees success. Ms. Ufland has written numerous articles on Spa development and has been quoted in the top industry trade magazines as well as lectured at national trade events. She is currently pursuing certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. (LEED).